Forgetting to cancel a restaurant reservation can cost you dearly

In order to make customers aware of the costs of absenteeism without warning, restaurants in Trois-Rivieres are using new methods to counter this problem.

Restaurateurs are after all and all means are good to ensure customers are seated at their tables during peak hours.

“On one summer evening, at home, we can cancel up to 90 cancellations. The challenge is to play with cancellations and reservations so you don’t lose tables,” explained Back Restaurant General Manager and Co-Founder, Martin Bilodo.

For various reasons, when booking, some restaurants have started asking for a credit card number that can be used to charge reimbursement fees.

According to the Consumer Protection Bureau, it is legal to ask a customer for their credit card number when making a reservation. On the contrary, what is illegal is to determine the amount of compensation in advance. It is important to remember that a restaurant reservation is a form of contract.

This method allows restaurant owners to protect themselves. “Not for the sake of making money. We got almost nothing. It really is for people to get used to canceling, not showing up at the restaurant, or canceling 15 minutes early,” Mr. Bilodo explained.

Currently, at PAC, $25 per person is required if the reservation ends in oblivion. The Consumer Protection Bureau confirmed that the actual amount of damages should be claimed.

However, according to our information, the amount currently required in Restaurant Pak is far from representative of the average amount billed to a customer.

With the holiday season approaching, the same principle is for the number of people. A company that keeps a group of 50 people must notify the restaurant if their number is less or more. This way, the restaurant can adjust its reservations accordingly.

The area’s restaurateurs were inspired by this method, which is already very popular in Montreal.